Air Suspension Kits for Classic Cars
Air suspension kits for classic cars are something we receive enquiries about nearly every week. There is good news and bad news. The good news is that air suspension is possible on many classic cars. The bad news is that, unless it is a Mercedes from the 1960s onwards, it is very unlikely to be a simple bolt-on kit.
For most classic cars, we can supply universal parts. There are kits for some classic American cars that we can import from the USA, but these still tend to involve at least some fabrication. That is common in the American custom car market, where installers are often used to adapting and fabricating parts as part of the build. American pricing for air suspension parts is also in an entirely different league, as many people have already discovered for themselves.
What We Mean by Universal Parts
When we say universal, we do not mean that the parts will magically bolt onto every vehicle. In reality, universal means they will not fit any particular vehicle directly without work. Universal air suspension parts will require fabrication by the customer or by the customer’s installer.
This is where misunderstandings often happen. Customers sometimes ask for “bags and other parts to put my car on air”. Unfortunately, that is not enough information for us to supply the correct parts.
Air Bags Have Sizes, Just Like Tyres
Asking for air bags without dimensions is like phoning a garage and saying you need a new tyre, instead of asking for price and availability on a specific size such as 185/65 R15. Air bags, just like tyres, have sizes, and the correct size matters.
For us to supply suitable air bags, we need to know how much space is available on the vehicle. This includes the outer diameter of the front spring, the clear area around the front spring, and the space available for the rear bags or mounting arrangement.
All air bags require at least 1 inch of clearance all the way around them. Any less than this and the bags are likely to touch surrounding parts, rub, fail and need replacing. Damage caused by insufficient clearance is not a warranty issue.
Vehicle Weight and Axle Loads Matter
Weight also matters. Front and rear axle weights help dictate the minimum air bag size that can sensibly be used. A bag that physically fits is not automatically suitable if it does not have the capacity, volume or working characteristics needed for that part of the vehicle.
Leverage and other design parameters also come into it. The position of the bag, the suspension layout, the motion ratio, available travel, mounting angle and surrounding clearances can all affect what will and will not work. This is why photos of your suspension are so useful. A drawing, workshop manual diagram, or suspension layout image found online can also help us understand the arrangement and give better advice.
You Need to Tell Us What You Need
To sum this up, you need to tell us exactly what you need from us to get you started. We can supply the parts, but the fabrication and vehicle-specific installation work will need to be carried out by you or by your installer.
We are happy to offer a quote, but we need useful information from you. This should include measurements, photos, the intended design, and details of what you are trying to achieve. Please do not expect us to put together a complete package for a 1950s, 1960s or 1970s model without input from you.
Labour Time on Classic Car Air Suspension
Labour is one of the biggest factors in any classic car air suspension project. A full custom install on a classic car can very easily take 100 hours. That may sound a lot, but once the vehicle has been measured, stripped, assessed, mocked up, fabricated, assembled, tested, altered and finished, the hours add up quickly.
If the aim is to create the first phase of developing a kit, meaning a package that could later be sold to other people to fit to the same type of car, 200-250 hours is common. A fully tested and fully developed kit, evolved and refined across multiple vehicles, can take up to 500 hours.
This means a one-off classic car bespoke custom install will eat both parts and time. If you are doing the work yourself, that can create massive savings, because you are not paying someone else for every hour of development, fabrication and problem-solving. If you are paying a professional installer or fabricator, the labour cost can easily become the largest part of the project.
Designing an Air Suspension Kit Takes Engineering
Designing an air suspension kit involves far more than just putting parts together. It requires a certain amount of engineering, measuring, judgement, fabrication and trial and error.
On some vehicles, clearances are extremely tight. It can be tempting to use a smaller air bag because it is easier to fit, rather than using the air bag that is actually right for the job. Do not do this. Choosing a bag because it is easy to install can render the whole project pointless if the finished vehicle has poor ride quality.
Choose the right air bag for the job, not simply the easiest air bag for the installation.
Do Not Skimp on Quality
Another common mistake, alongside choosing the wrong parts or making installation errors, is skimping on quality. Air suspension can be expensive to set up properly, but if the cost is a major turn-off, it is better to leave the car as it is than to fit cheap, unreliable parts.
When air is the sole suspension of a vehicle, you absolutely need good quality parts. We have had an increase in enquiries from people who have had compressors fail, or who have manifolds or remotes that are no longer responsive. Just because a cheaper compressor, manifold or controller looks similar to a reputable brand, it does not mean it is built to the same standard.
A useful comparison is Apple products. Apple users know they are paying for the brand, but in return they get good products, good support and a reliable ownership experience. Air suspension is similar. Buy the original. Buy quality. Do not try to save money by buying a knock-off, or worse, a knock-off of a knock-off. Sooner or later, any savings are likely to be swallowed up by repair bills, replacement parts and wasted time.
Decide What You Want the Air Suspension to Do
Air suspension is not a magical solution to every problem, and no single kit can do everything. From the very beginning, you need to decide what the main purpose of the air suspension will be.
- Do you want to improve comfort?
- Do you want to lower the car dramatically?
- Do you want to increase clearance for speed bumps, steep driveways or awkward entrances?
- Do you want a show car stance?
- Do you want a practical road car that rides well?
Many of these requirements can be met, but not always at the same time and not always with the same kit. A system designed mainly to sit extremely low may not be the same as a system designed mainly for comfort, practicality and suspension travel.
Air Management Options
Air management packs are not vehicle-specific, so any suitable air management system can usually be installed on a classic car project. Whether you choose a manual paddle controller, a solenoid-based system, or a digital management pack such as a 3P Digital Controller pack is mainly a matter of preference, budget and how you want to use the vehicle.
The same applies to having one or two compressors. Some customers prefer a simple single-compressor setup, while others prefer the extra speed and backup of a dual-compressor system. The right answer depends on the vehicle, the size of the system and how the car will be used.
Universal Air Suspension Parts for Classic Cars
Our universal air suspension parts for cars are available here: Universal Air Suspension Parts.
What We Need from You
Before we can quote properly, we need you to provide useful information. This may include:
- Clear photos of the front and rear suspension.
- Measurements of the available space for air bags.
- Details of the current suspension layout.
- Front and rear axle weights where available.
- Suspension drawings, workshop manual diagrams, or useful images found online.
- Information about the vehicle’s intended use.
- Whether the priority is comfort, lowering, clearance, show use or general road use.
- Details of any fabrication work your installer is able to carry out.
The more useful information you provide, the easier it is for us to recommend suitable parts. Without measurements, photos, weight information and a clear idea of the intended design, we can only give very general guidance.
Get in Touch
Need more information? Our team is here to help!
- Call us: 0800 772 0315
- Email us: ENQUIRIES@AIRRIDE.UK